TO 


Capitalists,  Investors,  Manufacturers, 


ALL  PERSONS  DESIRING  HOMES 


Country  and  Suburbs  of  New  York. 


HISTORICAL  AND  TOPOGRAPHICAL   DESCRIPTION  OF 
THAT  'PORTION  OF  WESTCHESTER  AND  PUTNAM 
COUNTIES  IMMEDIATELY   CONTIGUOUS  TO 
THE  N.  Y.  CITY  &  NORTHERN  RAILROAD. 


PREPARED,  PUBLISHED  AND  CIRCULATED 


Real  Estate  Brokers, 
No  9  Vanderbilt  Avenue  and  3  I  and  33  Broad  Street, 

NEW  YORK. 


NEW  YORK : 
Jones  Printing  Company,  42  Broad  Street. 


and 


IN  THE 


A  BRIEF 


BY 


WM.  H.  HOYT  &  CO., 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


lEx  Ktbrtfi 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Ever'tbinQ  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


TO 

Capitalists,  Investors,  Manufacturers, 

AND 

ALL  PERSONS  DESIRING  HOMES 

IN  THL 

Country  and  Suburbs  of  New  York. 

a  BRIEF 

HISTORICAL  AN  D  TOPOGRAPHICAL   DESCRIPTION  OF 
FHAT  PORTION  OF  WESTCHESTER  AND  PUTNAM 
COUNTIES  IMMEDIATELY  CONTIGUOUS  TO 
THE  N.  V.  CITY  &  NORTHERN  RAILROAD. 


PREPARED,  PUBLISHED  AND  CIRCULATE  LI 

UY 

WM.  H.  HOYT  &  CO., 

Real  Estate  Brokers, 
No.  9  Vanderbilt  Avenue  and  31  and  33  Broad  stkee  i  , 

SEW  YORK. 


NEW  YORK : 
JONBS  PRINTING  COMPANY,  ±'i  BROAD  SlKUEr. 


M5 


Copyright.  iSSj. 
by  WM.  H.  Hoyt  &  Co. 


PREFACE. 


The  publishers  of  this  pamphlet  beg  to  submit  the  same 
to  the  public  with  a  few  explanations.  While  it  is  mainly 
aken  up  with  a  description  of  the  portion  of  Westchester 
and  Putnam  counties  traversed  by  the  New  York  City  & 
Northern  Railroad — a  section  comparatively  unknown  to 
large  numbers  of  the  people  of  New  York  city — they  have 
no  desire  or  intention  to  detract,  either  in  respect  to  loca- 
tion, beauties  of  scenery,  or  improvements,  from  that  por- 
tion of  the  above  counties  fronting  upon  and  approximate 
to  the  world-renowned  Hudson  River,  along  which  the 
Hudson  River  Railroad  passes ;  or  that  portion  intersected 
by  the  Harlem  or  New  Haven  railroads. 

Our  clientage  is  large  and  our  interests  identical  with  the 
people  of  all  portions  of  Westchester  and  Putnam  coun- 
ties ;  and  it  will  be  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  our  duty 
and  pleasure  alike  to  point  out  to  the  general  public,  who 
may  call  upon  us,  all  advantages  surrounding  any  location, 
regardless  of  the  interest  of  .any  individual  over  his  neigh- 
bor. 

With  many  thanks  for  past  liberal  patronage,  and  trust- 
ing we  may  recive  a  share  of  future  business, 
We  are,  respectfully, 

WM.  H.  HOYT  &  CO. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


http://archive.org/details/tocapitalistsinvOOdurs 


To  the  large  class  seeking  homes  in  the  suburbs  of  New 
York  the  question,  "  Where  shall  we  go  ?"  is  always  an  in- 
teresting, and  often  a  puzzling  one.  Tastes  and  needs  of 
course  differ,  and  so  do  the  inducements  held  out  in  various 
sections  to  tempt  the  searcher  after  rural  comfort.  New- 
Jersey,  Long  Island  and  other  localities  have  in  turn  come 
to  the  front  with  a  long  list  of  "unequaled  advantages";  but 
just  when  some  one  of  them  seemed  to  be  outbidding 
the  others  for  popular  favor,  its  prospects  were  seriously 
damaged  by  the  fatal  cry  of  mosquitoes !  or  malaria ! 
The  present  hurried  march  of  improvement  up-townward 
has  once  more  set  the  current  of  settlement  in  motion 
toward  Westchester,  and  as  the  area  of  Manhattan  Island 
will  soon  be  filled,  and  as  the  overflow  must  go  somewhere, 
what  outlet  so  natural  as  that  of  the  neighboring  territory 
on  the  north  ? 

This  region  is  clearly  pointed  out,  by  its  pleasing  scenery 
of  hills  and  dales,  its  numerous  lakes  and  rippling  streams, 
fine  stretches  of  arable  land,  health-giving  air  and  easy  ac- 
cess to  New  York,  as  the  popular  future  abode  of  the 
increasing  multitudes  whose  commercial  and  other  in- 
terests link  them  with  the  metropolis,  but  who  desire  their 
families  to  enjoy  the  privileges  of  country  life. 

No  one  of  the  routes  of  travel  penetrating  the  county  of 
Westchester  offers  to  the  prospective  transient  or  perma- 
nent resident,  and  to  the  careful  investor  in  real  estate, 
attractions  equal  to  those  found  within  reach  of  the  New- 
York  City  &  Northern  Railroad.    The  line  passes  through 


4 


a  series  cf  quiet  and  beautiful  valleys,  near  several  favorite 
lakes,  and  always  through  a  healthy  district.  It  is  now  in 
part,  and  will  soon  be  wholly,  placed  in  close  connection 
with  the  Manhattan  system  of  elevated  roads,  thus  adding 
greatly  to  its  facilities  otherwise  possessed. 

The  New  York  City  &  Northern  road  begins  at  155th 
street,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Harlem  River.  Thence  it 
crosses  to  the  east  side  over  a  solid  drawbridge,  and  de- 
scends by  an  easy  grade  to  the  station  of 

HIGH  BRIDGE, 

one  mile  from  155th  street  (by  express  trains),  and  33  min- 
utes from  Wall  street.  The  High  Bridge  is  so  well  known 
as  a  triumph  of  engineering  skill,  and  an  object  of  admira- 
tion, that  it  calls  for  little  else  than  a  passing  reference.  It 
carries  the  waters  of  the  croton  reservoir,  35  miles  distant, 
across  the  valley  of  the  Harlem  River — or,  as  this  arm  of 
the  East  River  was  aboriginally  called,  the  Muscoota — at 
an  elevation  of  100  feet  The  contractor  for  this  work  was 
the  late  George  Law,  justly  celebrated  as  an  energetic  arid 
successful  builder;  his  appropriate  sobriquet  of  "Live  Oak 
George"  will  be  readily  called  to  mind.  This  vicinity 
abounds  in  points  of  historic  interest,  and  includes  many 
pleasing  views.  We  offer  for  sale  here  very  desirable  im- 
proved and  unimproved  properties,  together  with  plots  and 
lots — all  having  a  fine  speculative  future.  At 

MORRIS  DOCK, 

two  miles  from  155th  street,  and  36  minutes  from  Wail 
street  (by  express  trains),  we  can  supply  buyers  with  attract- 
ive country  seats,  and  also  with  land  well  situated  for  divid- 
i  ng  into  parcels,  some  having  good  water  front.  These  proper- 
ties, brought  by  rapid  transit  so  near  the  business  centre  of 


f 
D 

New  York,  must  greatly  increase  in  value  at  an  early  day. 
The  station  of  Fordham  Heights  is  about  one  mile  further  on. 
In  the  region  of  High  Bridge,  Morris  Dock  and  Fordham 
Heights  are  located  the  fine  residences,  among  others,  of 
Frank  W.  Edson,  Lewis  G.  Morris,  Fordham  Morris, 
Hugh  N.  Camp  and  Gustav  Schwab ;  also  the  valuable 
estate  of  Wm.  B.  Ogden  and  the  Dashford  Estate. 

KING  S  BRIDGE 

is  four  miles  from  155th  street,  and  41  minutes  from  Wall 
street  (by  express  trains)  The  mention  of  this  name  strikes 
a  chord  which  vibrates  away  back  in  the  early  colonial 
times.  The  settlement  was  thus  named  in  honor  of  Wil- 
liam the  Third  of  England,  who,  in  1693,  granted  to  Fred- 
erick Filipse — the  great  lord  of  the  manor  extending  thence 
to  the  Croton — authority  to  build  a  bridge  at  this  point, 
and  levy  toll  on  all  persons  and  animals  passing  over  it ; 
the  bridge  is  also  a  part  of  the  old  Albany  post  road. 

During  the  revolutionary  war  this  place  constituted  the 
"barrier"  of  the  British  lines  in  this  direction.  The  cele- 
brated "  Neutral  Ground "  extended  from  Kingsbridge  to 
the  Croton,  and  included  generally  that  part  of  Westchester 
county  lying  between  the  Harlem  and  the  former  stream. 
The  bridge  became  the  headquarters  of  the  "  Cow  boys" 
who  were  a  constant  source  of  terror  to  the  unfortunate  in- 
habitants of  the  Neutral  Ground.  They  were  mostly  re- 
fugees, and  formed  a  part  of  the  irregular  forces  of  the 
British  army.  Their  purpose  was,  in  the  main,  to  plunder 
generally,  and  especially  lo  seize  upon  cattle  which  they  dis- 
posed of  within  the  English  lines.  Their  nominal  antagonists, 
the  "  Skimiers"  were  Americans  also,  and  professed  to 
have  the  home  cause  dear  to  their  hearts,  while  in  reality 


6 


they  were  often  in  league  with  the  "  boys,"  and  are  said  to 
have  shown  more  inhumanity  to  the  patriots  than  even  the 
notorious  cow-hunters  themselves. 

Connecting  the  Harlem  River  with  the  Hudson  is  Spin  - 
ten  Duyvil  creek,  the  name  of  which  is  derived  from  an  in- 
cident in  the  colonial  annals  described  by  the  genial  his- 
torian, Diedrich  Knickerbocker  (Washington  Irving),  in  the 
"  Doleful  disaster  of  Anthony  the  Trumpeter."  The  reader 
will  excuse  its  introduction  here  as  a  specimen  of  Irving's 
inimitable  style  and  humor  : 

"  Stuyvesant,  resolutely  bent  upon  defending  his  beloved  city  (New- 
Amsterdam),  in  despite  of  itself,  called  unto  him  his  trusty  Van  Cor- 
)ear,  who  was  his  right  hand  man  in  all  cases  of  emergency.  Him 
did  he  adjure  to  take  his  war-denouncing  trumpet,  and  mounting  his 
horse,  to  beat  up  the  country,  night  and  day,  sounding  the  alarm  along 
the  pastoral  borders  of  the  Bronx,  startling  the  w  ide  solitudes  of  Cro- 
ton,  arousing  the  rugged  yeomanry  of  Weehawken  and  Iloboken,  the 
mighty  men  of  battle  of  Tappan  Bay,  and  the  brave  boys  of  Tarry- 
town  and  Sleepy  Hollow,  together  with  all  the  other  warriors  of  the 
country  round  about;  charging  them,  one  and  all,  to  sling  their  pow- 
der horns,  shoulder  their  fowling  pieces,  and  march  merrily  down  to 
the  Manhattans.  Now,  there  was  nothing  in  all  the  world,  the  divine 
sex  excepted,  that  Anthony  Van  Corlear  loved  better  than  errands  of 
this  kind.  So  just  stopping  to  take  a  lusty  dinner,  and  bracing  to  his 
side  his  junk  bottle,  well  charged  with  heart-inspiring  Hollands,  he 
issued  jollily  from  the  city  gate  that  looked  out  upon  what  is  at  pres- 
ent called  Broadway,  sounding  as  usual  a  farewell  strain,  that  rung  in 
sprightly  echoes  through  the  winding  streets  of  New  Amsterdam. 
Alas !  never  more  were  they  to  be  gladdened  by  the  melody  of  their 
favorite  trumpeter  !  It  was  a  dark  and  stormy  night  when  the  go  id 
Anthony  arrived  at  the  famous  creek  (sagely  denominated  Harlem 
River)  which  separates  the  island  of  Manna-hata  from  the  main  land. 
The  wind  was  high,  the  elements  were  in  an  uproar,  and  no  Charon 
could  be  found  to  ferry  the  adventurous  sounder  of  brass  across  the 
water.  For  a  short  time  he  vapored  like  an  impatient  ghost  upon  the 
brink,  and  then  bethinking  himself  of  the  urgency  of  his  errand,  took 


7 


a  hearty  embrace  of  his  stone  bottle,  swore  most  valorously  that  1  e 
would  swim  across  en  spuyt  den  duyvel,  and  daringly  plunged  into 
the  stream  Luckless  Anthony  !  scarce  had  he  buffeted  half  way  over 
when  he  was  observed  to  struggle  violently,  as  if  battling  with  the 
spirit  of  the  waters — instinctively  he  put  his  trumpet  to  his  mouth, 
ami  giving  a  vehement  blast,  sunk  forever  to  the  bottom  !" 

The  project  of  widening  and  deepening  the  channel  of 
the  upper  Harlem  River,  and  Spuyten  Duyvil  creek  is  now 
taking  shape  under  the  competent  direction  of  Gen.  Newton, 
of  the  United  States  engineer  corps,  who  also  has  charge  of 
the  improvements  at  Hurl  Gate.  This  undertaking  is  to 
be  carried  on  at  the  expense  of  the  Federal  Government, 
and  must,  when  completed,  be  of  essential  advantage  to  the 
city  of  New  York,  as  well  as  to  the  inhabitants  of  lower 
Westchester  county — however  much  it  may  despoil  old 
landmarks  and  change  the  present  aspect  of  the  scenery. 
The  enlarged  channel,  which  will  be  ample  for  the  passage 
of  river,  and  even  of  many  coasting  craft,  from  the  Hudson 
to  the  East  River,  will  not  follow  the  course  of  the  present 
tide  flow,  but  one  in  which  economy  of  cost  and  distance 
will  be  mutual  factors.  Within  a  short  distance  of  Kings- 
bridge  are  seen  the  country  seats  of  Jos.  Godwin.  Wm.  G. 
Ackerman,  Isaac  M  Dyckman,  and  the  Geo.  W.  Peck 
estate  :  the  valuable  property  of  Mr.  Abel  Denison,  and 
many  others  of  like  prominence  are  also  in  the  neighborhood. 

We  have  in  this  immediate  vicinity  acre  and  lot  proper- 
ties admirably  located  for  residence  and  business  purposes, 
with  a  large  margin  for  profit  if  purchased  soon. 

On  leaving  the  station  at  Kingsbridge  the  track  of  the 
Northern  road  diverges  from  that  of  the  Hudson  River 
road,  with  which  it  has  been  on  parallel  and  intimate  terms 
all  the  way  from  the  crossing  below  Highbridge,  and  enters 
a  well  settled  vale  trending  to  the  northward.    On  one  of 


8 


the  adjoining  knolls  at  the  right,  embowered  in  trees  and 
shrubbery,  maybe  seen  the  Macomb  mansion,  commanding 
a  clear  view  of  this  whole  section  and  much  of  Manhattan 
Island.  The  Macomb  family  is  descended  from  the  Mc- 
Combies  of  Scotland,  long  domiciled  in  Ireland,  from 
whence  John  Macomb  migrated  to  this  country  in  1742. 
The  late  Gen.  Alexander  Macomb  will  be  recollected  by 
numbers  who  are  not  yet  old.  Many  who  never  heard  of 
the  family  are  familiar  with  the  dam,  and  bridge  across  the 
Harlem  at  Eighth  avenue,  which  have  given  the  name  a 
local  fame.    Further  on  the  road  approaches 

VAN  CORTLANDT 

station,  5  miles  from  155th  street,  and  43  minutes  from  Wall 
street  (by  express  trains).  Here  in  the  vicinity  is  the  an- 
cient Van  Cortlandt  estate,  embracing  about  1,200  acres  of 
land,  and  still  in  the  possession  of  a  family  famous  in  colo- 
nial annals,  and  bearing  an  honored  name  in  revolutionary 
and  subsequent  civil  history.  The  mansion  house  is  well 
located  on  a  knoll  or  hill  bordering  the  "vale  of  Yonkers" 
on  the  west. v  In  front  of  it  flows  the  well-known  Tippett's 
brook,  or  Moshulu  of  the  Indians.  The  first  owner  of  this 
estate  was  Jacobus  Van  Cortlandt,  claiming  descent  from 
the  dukes  of  Courland  in  Russia,  who  thereafter  settled  in 
Holland.  Jacobus  married  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Filipse, 
of  the  manor  of  Phillipsburgh.  His  son  Frederick  took  for 
wife  a  scion  of  the  Huguenot,  Augustus  Jay.  As  Jacobus 
was  possessed  of  land  in  the  town  of  Bedford,  the  fact  of 
the  present  Jay  family  owning  a  fine  estate  in  that  quarter  is 
easily  accounted  for.  Col.  James  Van  Cortlandt  resided, 
during  the  revolutionary  troubles,  in  the  family  mansion 
above  described,  in  1  Old  '  or  '  Lower '  Yonkers.    He  is  re- 


9 


presented  as  extending  much  relief  to  bis  suffering  country- 
men, oft^n  interceding  with  the  British  authorities  in  their 
behalf  when  robbed  of  property ;  his  character  was  such 
that  he  seldom  pleaded  in  vain.  The  Van  Cortlandts  and 
Jays  have  added  lustre  to  the  annals  of  this  country,  and 
their  surviving  descendants  have  no  mean  task  set  before 
them  to  keep  it  untarnished. 

We  are  offering  just  about  here  properties  considered 
very  desirable,  in  view  of  both  situation  and  price.  The 
next  station  is 

SOUTH  YONKERS, 

eight  miles  from  155th  street,  and  45  minutes  from  Wall 
street  (by  express  trains);  it  is  also  two  miles  from  Mount 
Vernon  on  the  Harlem  Railroad.  A  branch  road  to  Getty 
Square  will  soon  be  constructed,  beginning  at  Van  Cor 
landt  station,  three  miles  south — the  right  of  way  having 
been  obtained  and  paid  for.  Meantime  a  free  passenger 
line  connects  all  trains,  stopping  at  South  Yonkers,  with  the 
Getty  House.  We  have  fine  acre  properties  for  sale  near 
the  station. 

The  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  city  of  Yonkers  at  the 
date  of  the  last  census  was  about  20,000.  Its  develop- 
ment was  greatly  aided  by  the  completion  of  the  Hudson 
River  Railroad,  something  more  than  30  years  ago.  Owing 
to  its  healthful  and  favored  location,  as  well  as  proximity  to 
New  Y'ork,  its  population  has  increased  and  continues  to 
increase  with  rapidity;  a  large  proportion  belongs  to  the 
wealthy  and  thrifty  class  of  citizens.  The  water  facilities 
of  the  Nepperan,  or  Saw-mill  creek,  which  here  enters  the 
Hudson,  have  led  to  the  multiplication  of  factories,  some  of 
them,  such  as  the  hat,  carpet,  silk  and  woolen  industries, 
employing  hundreds  of  hands. 


IO 


The  word  Yonkers  (Jonkheer),  is  of  Dutch  origin,  signi- 
fying 'young  gentleman,'  being  a  common  appellation  for 
the  heir  of  a  Dutch  family.  The  name  Nepperan,  now 
generally  applied  to  the  Saw-mill  River,  is  a  variation  of  the 
larger  Indian  name  as  found  in  grants  of  land  made  to  the 
Dutch  in  this  town.  The  name  was  also  given  to  the 
Mohegan  village  once  located  near  the  mouth  of  that 
stream :  it  means  "  rapid  water  settlement?  The  Dutch 
West  India  Company  purchased  lands  in.  this  town  from 
native  Indian  sachems  as  early  as  1639.  The  next  grantee 
under  the  Indians,  1646,  was  the  illustrious  Adrian  Van  der 
Donck,  the  first  lawyer  of  eminence  who  settled  in  the 
Nieu  Netherlands  •  he  was  educated  at  the  University  of 
Leyden. 

The  justly  celebrated  Frederick  Filipse,  or,  in  plain  Eng- 
lish. Frederic  Phillips,  the  proprietor  of  the  superb  manor — 
especially  would  it  be  so  considered  if  owned  by  one  person 
now — extending  from  Spuyten  Duyvil  to  Croton  River,  and 
touching  the  Bronx  at  one  point,  was  by  far  the  most  con- 
spicuous figure  among  the  land  owners  in  these  parts  during 
the  early  colonial  period.  He  acquired  all  of  this  magnifi- 
cent property — mostly  from  native  owners — between  the 
years  1672  and  1700.  Near  the  mouth  of  the  Pocantico 
creek  in  Sleepy  Hollow,  as  will  be  related  more  in  detail 
further  on,  he  built  a  "castle,"  between  the  years  1681-3, 
which  was  for  a  time  his  favorite  place  of  residence.  At 
about  the  same  date  he  constructed,  in  the  present  city  of 
Yonkers,  the  well-known  "  Manor  Hall,"  now  used  for  mu- 
nicipal purposes,  and  of  course  somewhat  modernized,  where 
the  'lords  of  the  manor,'  his  descendants,  continued  to  live 
down  to  the  time  of  the  revolution.  The  then  heir  of  the 
same  name  being  a  tory,  the  estate  was  confiscated,  1779, 


1 1 


and  thereafter  sold  in  parcels.  Life  in  the  Phillips'  manor 
houses  in  those  days  was  somewhat  unique.  The  tenantry 
paid  their  rent  on  fixed  days  twice  a  year — some  at  Yonkers 
and  others  at  Sleepy  Hollow,  according  to  convenience. 
The  lords  were  quite  generous  on  these  occasions  and  en- 
tertained the  hard-working  tillers  of  the  soil  with  a  liberal 
spread ;  as  well  they  might  with  an  abundance  of  good 
things  at  hand  and  some  30  white  and  20  colored  (slave) 
servants  about  the  establishment.  Sometimes  individual 
tenants  being  found  short  of  funds  were  allowed  to  pay  in 
kind :  which  means,  they  turned  in  a  few  fat  fowls,  a  load 
of  cabbages,  or  a  cord  of  wood,  as  the  case  might  be. 

Mary  Phillips,  born  in  1730,  at  Manor  Hall,  and  a 
daughter  of  the  then  lord  of  the  manor  with  the  full  stereo- 
type name,  was  beautiful  and  accomplished  enough  to  cap- 
tivate the  attention — some  think  the  affections — of  no  less 
a  person  than  Col.  Washington,  of  Virginia.  The  colonel 
met  her  in  New  York  in  1756,  at  the  house  of  her  brother- 
in-law,  Beverly  Robinson,  and  might  have  pressed  his  suit 
thereafter  had  opportunity  permitted.  If  the  Father  of  his 
country  had  espoused  Mary  Phillips,  who  would  venture  to 
say  that  history,  as  now  written,  might  not  require  material 
revision.  But  Miss  Phillips  was  won  by  Col.  Roger  Morris, 
one  of  Gen.  Braddock's  three  aids  in  the  affair  at  Monon- 
gahela  River — the  other  two  being  Robert  Orme  and  Geo. 
Washington.  Mrs.  Morris  and  her  sisters — Mrs.  Robinson 
and  Mrs.  Inglis — who  were  equal  heirs  of  the  Phillips  estate 
when  it  passed  under  the  ban  of  the  State  Commissioners  of 
Forfeiture,  were  outlawed — being  probably  the  only  females 
attainted  of  treason  during  the  revolutionary  struggle.  Sub- 
sequently the  Attorney-General  of  England,  after  examin- 
ing the  case,  gave  an  opinion  to  the  effect,  that  the  rever- 


12 


sionary  right  of  the  children  (heirs)  of  these  ladies  survived 
the  act  of  attainder  and  was  recoverable  under  the  princi- 
ples of  equity.  In  1809  John  Jacob  Astor,  with  his  accus- 
tomed shrewdness,  purchased  the  reversionary  interest  for 
the  round  sum  of  $100,000.  Nineteen  years  afterwards  he 
compromised  with  the  State  of  New  York,  which  had  long 
before  divided  and  sold  the  Phillips  estate,  for  $500,000. 

The  finances  of  the  city  of  Yonkers  are  gradually  settling 
down  to  a  sound  and  healthy  basis.  Under  prudent  manage- 
ment the  large  debt  incurred  a  few  years  since  for  public 
improvements — chiefly  avenues  radiating  to  important 
points,  and  the  present  efficient  system  of  water  works — has 
melted  away  to  such  an  extent  as  no  longer  to  appal  the 
taxpayer,  or  repel  liberal  investments  of  outside  capital. 
The  act  making  the  city  and  town  limits  identical,  has  been 
attended  with  good  results.  The  next  station  on  the 
Northern  road  is 

NORTH  YONKERS, 

eleven  miles  from  155th  street,  51  minutes  from  Wall  street 
(by  express  trains),  and  about  two  miles  from  Getty  Square. 
The  railroad  line  having  passed  from  the  vale  of  Tippett's 
brook  into  that  of  the  Sprain,  a  clear  and  rapid  stream 
abounding  in  trout,  here  enters  through  a  natural  opening 
in  the  ridge  into  the  valley  of  the  Nepperan.  The  future 
possibilities  of  this  locality  are  apparent  to  the  observer  at 
first  sight.  To  the  east  southeast  stretches  a  fine  macada- 
mized drive  to  Tuckahoe,  on  the  Harlem  Railroad,  about 
two  and  a  quarter  miles.  The  same  avenue  continues  down 
the  east  side  of  the  Nepperan  valley  into  the  heart  of  Yon- 
kers. About  three-quarters  of  a  mile  south  of  the  station 
is  met  the  head  of  the  column  of  factories  steadily  advanc- 


13 


ing  up  the  valley.  The  conformation  of  the  Nepperan  basi-i 
is  at  all  points  admirably  suited  for  manufacturing  indus- 
tries— especially  those  requiring  an  abundance  of  water  for 
other  purposes  than  motive  power.  The  time  cannot, 
therefore,  be  very  far  distant  when  the  line  of  factories  will 
have  reached  North  Yonkers  station  and  started  on  its  pro- 
gressive march  further  up  the  valley. 

We  are  prepared  to  supply  those  disposed  to  work  this 
rich  placer  of  profitable  investment  with  some  of  the  most 
desirable  property  in  the  neighborhood.  In  particular,  we 
offer  in  one  tract  200  acres  of  choice  ridge  land,  south  of 
the  depot.  All  this  ground  can  be  sub-divided  at  pleasuref 
forming  lots  and  beautiful  sites,  in  which  there  is  a  wide 
speculative  margin  above  the  prices  asked.  Also,  we  have 
about  three  hundred  acres,  immediately  north  of  depot, 
with  water  front;  no  finer  property  in  the  State. 

Directly  west  of  North  Yonkers  are  the  superbly  located 
and  elegant  mansions  of  J.  B.  Colgate,  J.  B.  Trevor,  C.  J. 
Lilienthal  and  Samuel  J.  Tilden — that  of  the  latter  being 
known  as  "  Graystone,"  late  the  Waring  property.  To  the 
east  of  North  Yonkers  are  the  attractive  residences  of 
Sheriff  Courter  and  Alderman  Hicks,  and  many  others  of 
like  prominence. 

NEPPERAN  VALLEY. 

After  leaving  North  Yonkers  the  railroad  traverses  this 
valley  for  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  leaving  it  at  East  Tarry- 
town  ;  and  a  charming  vale  it  is,  too.  Flanking  it  on  the 
left  is  a  range  of  elevated  hills  usually  crowned  with  woods, 
and  often  rising  with  steep  and  rocky  sides.  At  several 
points  the  summit  line  bends  more  or  less  downwards — suf- 
ficiently so  to  make  travel  across  it  not  difficult.  Near 


Elmsford  and  East  Tarry  town  this  line  almost  touches  the 
bottom  of  the  valley,  permitting  easy  approach  to  Irvington 
and  Tarrytown.  On  the  right  the  view  is  bounded  by 
much  cultivated  land  sloping  from  the  top  of  the  ridge  to 
the  creek,  embracing  many  fine  farms  and  eligible  sites  of 
all  sorts  for  country  seats  and  cottages.  The  highway  fol- 
lows the  base  of  the  eastern  slope:  and  often  in  Revolution 
ary  days  the  contiguous  woods  resounded  with  the  clatter  of 
hoofs,  as  the  Cowboys  and  Skinners  swept  along  its  course, 
pursuing  and  pursued.  The  first  station  above  North  Yon- 
kers  is 

ODELLS, 

fifty-seven  minutes  from  Wall  street  (by  express  trains),  and 
thirteen  miles  from  155th  street.  This  locality  lies  nearly 
east  of  Hastings-on-Hudson,  to  which  a  highway  leads  over 
a  depression  of  the  hill :  the  distance  to  Broadway  is  about 
one  and  a  half  miles.  Near  here  on  the  east  are  the  resi- 
dences of  Mr.  Adolph  Lemoyne,  Benj.  Odell  and  Jas.  Pyle  ; 
to  the  west  lies  the  'elegant  property  of  the  estate  of  the 
late  Thos.  Le  Boutillier.  At  Hastings  are  the  fine  estates 
of  the  late  Dudley  Field,  E.  B.  Strange  and  Robert  Min- 
turn.  It  would  be  impossible  to  mention  here  the  names  of 
all  the  owners  of  attractive  country  seats  between  Kings- 
bridge  and  Tarrytown,  with  which  this  section  is  continu- 
ously studded.  The  area  extending  from  Tarrytown  to 
Dobb's  Ferry,  of  which  Irvington  and  immediate  vicinity  is 
the  keystone,  is  said  to  contain  more  elegant  and  costly 
villas  than  any  other  equal  distance  on  the  western  hemis- 
phere. 

We  have  for  sale  at  or  near  Odell's  several  farms  varying 
in  number  of  acres,  embracing  villa  sites  embellished  with 


15 


ample  foliage,  and  commanding  good  views  from  an  ele- 
vated position.    The  station  next  above  is  that  of 

ASHFORD, 

sixty  minutes  from  Wall  street  (by  express  trains),  and  15 
miles  from  155th  street.  Here  we  also  have  for  sale  very 
desirable  pieces  of  property  of  much  the  same  description 
as  at  Odell's,  though  aggregating  many  more  acres.  It  is 
in  this  neighborhood  that  the  wizard  hand  of  Mr.  Cyrus  W. 
Field  has  transformed  the  old-time  aspect  of  the  landscape, 
through  the  potent  agency  of  that  modern  genie — a  well 
filled  purse.  Mr.  Field  owns  600  or  700  acres  of  valuable 
land,  extending  from  Broadway,  on  the  west,  to  and  across 
the  Nepperan  valley  on  the  east.  On  this  property,  within 
a  few  years,  he  has  expended  a  large  sum  of  money.  He 
raised  quite  a  breeze  at  one  time  among  the  owners  of  real 
estate  fronting  on  the  Hudson  hereabouts  on  the  subject  of 
malaria,  many  claiming  that  he  had  been  instrumental  in 
giving  a  false  impression  as  to  its  general  prevalence  in  all 
that  section ;  whereas  the  truth  was,  finding  this  subtle  dis- 
order to  be  lurking  on  a  part  of  his  premises  he  had  simply 
rooted  it  out — to  the  great  benefit  of  his  neighbors,  as  well 
as  himself.  From  Ashford  a  good  road  leads  over  the  hill 
to  Dobb's  Ferry,  a  distance  of  1^  miles ;  a  free  stage, 
now  running  between  the  latter  village  and  Ashford,  is 
quite  well  patronized. 

To  the  east  of  Ashford  are  the  farms  and  country  seats  of 
Mr.  Isaac  Odell,  Christopher  Meyer,  Robert  Somerville 
and  many  others ;  on  the  west,  towards  Dobb's  Ferry, 
and  east  of  the  post  road,  on  elevated  ground,  are  the 
fine  country  seats  of  Cyrus  W.  Field,  J.  J.  Macomb 
Henry  Viilard,  William  A.  Cole  and  Frederick  J.  Stone. 


1 6 


Mr.  Villard  has  thirty  or  forty  acres  of  lawn  and 
other  ground  which  he  is  bringing  into  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  ornamentation,  his  aim  being  to  develop 
this  property,  as  he  is  accustomed  to  do  everywhere,  in  such 
a  way  that  it  may  add  to  the  value  of  his  neighbor's  acres 
as  well  as  his  own.  Mr.  Macomb  has  also  expended  much 
money  in  beautifying  his  country  seat,  as  well  as  Mr.  Stone 
and  many  others  who  are  improving  and  embellishing  this 
location. 

ELMSFORD, 

late  Hall's  Corners,  is  one  hour  5  minutes  from  Wall  street 
(by  express  trains),  and  18  miles  from  155th  street.  This 
is  one  of  the  most  central  and  important  points  on  the 
Northern  road.  It  lies  on  the  line  of  the  well-known  thor- 
oughfare between  Tarrytown  and  White  Plains,  being  about 
2y2  miles  distant  from  either  place.  The  usual  ridge  lying 
on  the  east  of  the  Nepperan  valley  is  here  depressed  and 
spread  out  in  fine  rolling  land.  On  the  west  southwest  is 
"  Beaver  Mountain."  an  exceptionally  high  wooded  hill  of 
historic  fame,  where  from  its  heights  can  be  seen  the  Sound 
and  Hudson  River. 

We  have  for  sale  more  than  1,000  acres,  with  improve- 
ments, within  one  mile  of  the  station,  at  prices  which  can- 
not but  insure  large  profits  to  purchasers.  Near  the  station, 
on  the  north,  is  a  venerable  elm  which  has  given  name  to 
the  place.  The  diameter  of  its  trunk  is  hardly  less  than 
five  feet  at  twice  that  distance  from  the  ground,  where  it 
sends  forth  a  number  of  massive  limbs  marked  by  the 
graceful  curves  observed  in  the  habit  of  that  variety  of  tree 
when  having  freedom  of  growth.  A  few  rods  south  of  the 
station  is  the  GreenburgVDutch  Reformed  church,  whose 


»7 

weather  beaten  appearance  speaks  of  advancing  age ;  the 
frame  is  said  to  have  been  erected  115  years  ago.  In  the 
graveyard  adjoining  stands  an  unpretentious  monument  of 
marble  erected  to  the  memory  of  Isaac  Van  Wart,  one  of 
the  captors  of  Major  Andre.  Mr.  Van  Wart  died  in  1828, 
and  this  testimony  to  his  services  was  contributed  and  set 
up  by  the  citizens  of  Westchester  county  in  June  of  the 
following  year;  Gen.  Aaron  Ward,  of  Sing  Sing,  was  the 
orator  of  the  day.  The  stone  is  badly  tarnished  and  should 
be  cleaned.  John  Paulding,  another  of  the  captors,  lies 
buried  in  St.  Peter's  churchyard,  two  miles  north  of  Peeks- 
kill,  where  a  monument  was  erected  to  his  memory  by  the 
corporation  of  the  city  of  New  York,  in  1827.  The  tomb 
of  David  Williams,  the  third  captor,  is  in  Schoharie  county, 
where  he  lived  during  his  later  years. 

On  the  ridge,  northeast  of  Elmsford,  is  located  the  "  Four 
Corners,"  or  "  Young's  burnt  house."  The  buildings  were 
used  as  a  post  for  detachments  of  American  troops  during 
most  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  February,  1780,  a  force 
of  patriots  under  Col.  Thompson  was  there  attacked  by 
about  1,000  British  soldiers.  Col.  Thompson  surrendered  to 
superior  numbers  after  a  loss  of  50  men  killed  or  wounded ; 
the  buildings  were  then  fired  and  consumed.  "  Twitching's 
Corners  "  lies  about  three  miles  north,  at  the  extremity  of 
the  ridge  in  that  direction. 

Near  the  road  leading  from  Elmsford  to  White  Plains  are 
the  grounds  formerly  used  by  the  Westchester  County  Agri- 
cultural Society.  The  property  is  now  owned  by  W.  D. 
Warren,  Esq.,  of  New  York  city,  who  has  greatly  improved 
it ;  he  makes  it  his  place  of  summer  residence.  An  excel- 
lent halt  mile  driving  track  is  included  in  these  grounds. 
White  Plains  was  the  scene  of  an  important  movement  of 


18 


the  Revolutionary  armies.  Gen.  Howe,  with  a  large  British 
force,  moved  from  Throgg's  Neck,  on  the  Sound,  and  ad- 
vanced on  Gen.  Washington's  position  at  White  Plains 
about  the  28th  of  October,  1776.  The  American  General 
occupied  a  square  fort  of  earth  and  sods  in  the  main  street, 
with  lateral  breastworks  extending  east  and  west  to  some 
distance.  A  considerable  detachment  was  posted  on  an 
elevation  in  advance  of  and  to  the  right  of  his  line,  called 
Chatterton  Hill.  This  was  assailed  by  the  enemy,  and, 
after  a  severe  struggle,  captured.  During  the  following  night 
and  one  or  two  succeeding  ones  Gen.  Washington  com- 
pleted his  intrenchments,  and  held  the  British  at  bay  until 
the  31st,  when  he  withdrew  to  a  new  and  stronger  fortified 
position,  about  one  mile  to  the  north.  It  is  the  opinion  of 
some  military  critics  that  if  Gen.  Howe  had  attacked 
Washington's  main  army  on  the  28th,  instead  of  the  force 
on  Chatterton's  Hill,  the  American  commander  must  have 
been  defeated;  as,  not  only  were  his  works  imperfect,  but 
he  was  much  inferior  to  the  enemy  both  in  numbers,  and 
discipline.  White  Plains  is  some  four  miles  distant  from 
the  Rye  lakes,  a  favorite  resort  for  anglers  in  this  section  ; 
their  waters  abound  in  black  bass  and  other  toothsome  fish. 

West  by  south  from  Elmsford  is  the  large  property  of  Mr. 
Alfred  Brady,  comprising  a  summer  residence  and  farm  of 
250  acres.  To  the  east  of  the  valley  is  a  fine  farm  belong- 
ing to  the  estate  of  the  late  Henry  Worthington  ;  on  ele- 
vated ground  his  widow  is  erecting  a  neat  stone  chapel. 
The  Wm.  H.  Aspinwall  estate  borders  this  part  of  the 
valley  on  the  east. 

The  distance  from  Elmsford  to  Broadway  (post  road) 
west  is  some  two  miles.  At  the  junction  of  these  two  roads, 
in  a  northeast  direction,  lies  the  country  seat  of  ex-Gov. 


19 


Pa^e,  of  Vermont,  lately  purchased  from  Lewis  Roberts, 
Esq.  On  the  southeast  are  the  elegant  grounds  and  man- 
sion of  Mr.  Bainbridge  S.  Clark.  Just  opposite  here  is  the 
superb  property  of  Mr.  Robert  Hoe,  extending  from  the 
post  road  to  the  Hudson  River.  Next  south  of  Mr.  Hoe  is 
the  finely  located  country  seat  of  Mr.  Frank  Vincent.  A 
little  north  and  east  can  be  seen  the  elegant  country  seats  of 
Charles  Schietiin,  Robert  Sewall,  S.  C.  Lewis,  Peter  Hoe, 
John  Daniels,  C.  S.  Buchanan,  and  others  of  like  prominence. 
Dr.  Barron  is  the  present  owner  of  the  "Benedict  place,' 
on  White  Plains  avenue.  Half  way  between  Elmsford 
and  Tarrytown  is  the  attractive  country  seat  of  Mr. 
Wra.  H.  Webb,  lately  known  as  the  "  Mitchell  place." 
Capt.  Casey,  of  the  Seventh  (New  York)  regiment,  also 
has  a  fine  residence  nearer  Tarrytown,  fronting  on  the 
above  road.  On  the  west  side  of  Broadway,  nearer  Irving- 
ton  than  Tarrytown,  is  the  entrance  to  "  Lyndhurst," 
the  princely  seat  of  Mr.  Jay  Gould.  Mr.  Gould  owns 
500  to  600  acres  of  land  hereabouts,  some  of  it  reaching 
nearly  to  the  Nepparan  valley;  a  portion  of  it  was 
bought  very  recently.  The  great  railway  king  is  rival- 
ing Mr.  Field  in  the  amount  of  money  expended  on  his 
property  here.  He  drains  and  levels,  clears  and  fertilizes 
land  and  builds  fences,  believing  investments  thus  made  to 
be  at  least  as  good  as  railway  stocks.  His  magnificent  con- 
servatory, just  rebuilt  on  the  ruins  of  the  former  one  re- 
cently burned,  is  probably  unsurpassed  in  the  country 
for  rare  and  costly  specimens  of  exotic  plants.  A  little 
south  of  Mr.  Gould's  is  the  world-renowned  Sunnyside, 
the  home  of  the  late  Washington  Irving;  it  is  a  favor- 
ite drive  with  visitors  in  this  neighborhood.  In  Christ 
(Episcopal)  church,  Tarrytown,  may  be  seen  a  mural  tablet 


20 


perpetuating  his  memory ;  his  mortal  remains  lie  in  Sleepy 
Hollow  cemetery.  Near  Irvington  and  east  of  Broadway, 
Albert  Bierstadt  and  Mr.  Gurnee,  the  banker,  have  elegant 
country  seats  on  very  elevated  ground. 

Leaving  Elmsford,  the  railroad  continues  up  the  quiet 
Nepperan  valley,  bordered  on  the  right  by  much  excellent 
farming  land.  At  the  point  where  the  line  turns  to  cross 
the  ridge  separating  this  valley  from  that  of  the  Pocantico, 
is  located  the  station  of 

EAST  TARRYTOWN, 

twenty  miles  from  155th  street,  and  one  hour  8  minutes 
(by  express  trains)  from  Wall  street.  Here  we  have  to 
offer,  near  the  depot,  several  good  farms  with  fair  improve- 
ments, at  prices  and  upon  terms  to  suit.  About  one  mile 
due  east,  on  very  high  ground,  is  the  somewhat  famous  stud 
farm  of  Mr.  Robert  Bonner,  of  the  New  York  Ledger. 
There  is  nothing  very  striking  about  the  appearance  of  this 
property,  which  includes  some  120  acres  of  fine  rolling 
land ;  but  while  the  improvements  are  anything  else  than 
showy,  they  are  well  adapted  to  the  owner's  purpose.  A 
few  rods  from  the  highway  is  seen  a  neat  though  unpreten- 
tious farm  house,  where  his  employees  are  quartered ;  and 
a  little  distance  further  back  are  several  modest  looking 
horse  stables,  supplied  with  all  modern  conveniences.  Here 
some  of  the  finest  trotting  stock  on  the  continent  may  be 
found,  aggregating  in  value  much  more  than  $100,000. 
Just  in  the  rear  of  the  stables  is  the  three-quarter  mile 
track,  which  is  the  exercise  and  training  ground  of  the 
fleet  animals,  and  is  said  to  be  the  fastest  course  of  its 
length  in  the  country.  The  owner  has  summered  as  many 
as  125  head  of  horses  here,  but  the  number  is  less  now. 


21 


while  it  is  also  more  select.  Mr.  Bonner  may  often  be  seen 
at  Tarrytown,  alighting  from  the  early  afternoon  train  of 
the  Hudson  River  road,  where  one  of  his  men  usually 
meets  him  with  a  rather  indifferent  looking  vehicle  drawn 
by  a  pair  of  equally  indifferent  horses — for  he  is  not  in  the 
habit  of  showing  his  best  stock  on  the  country  highways. 
Bent  on  his  favorite  pastime  he  does  not  altogether  present 
the  aspect  a  lively  fancy  would  assign  to  him  as  editor  and 
proprietor  of  a  prominent  weekly  paper.  Sometimes  he 
spends  a  full  day  at  his  farm,  and  is  often  accompanied  by 
one  or  more  friends.  From  the  elevated  grounds  of  Mr. 
Bonner's  farm  may  be  seen  the  elegant  country  seat  and  farm 
of  Mr.  Robert  M.  Knapp,  to  the  southwest ;  also  in  full 
view  from  the  railroad. 

Just  beyond  the  East  Tarrytown  station  the  range  of 
hills  which  shuts  in  the  Nepperan  valley  on  the  west  is  in- 
tersected by  a  deep  fissure  or  pass,  which  makes  travel 
hence  to  Tarrytown  comparatively  easy.  Near,  this  point 
the  road  bed  was  formerly  carried  over  the  chasm  on  a  tres- 
tle work,  800  feet  in  length  and  82  feet  high.  In  order 
both  to  avoid  this  lofty  aerial  traveling  of  doubtful  safety, 
and  to  tap  the  productive  traffic  of  the  village  of  Tarrytown 
the  railroad  company  recently  altered  the  grade  of  the 
line,  making,  at  the  same  time,  a  detour  in  the  shape  of  a 
horseshoe  (or  loop).    The  next  stopping  place  is  known  as 

TARRYTOWN, 

twenty-one  miles  from  155th  street,  and  one  hour  and 
ten  minutes  (express  trains)  from  Wall  street.  This  station 
is  conveniently  situated  on  Main  street,  only  one-half  mile 
from  the  center  of  the  village,  with  which  connection  is 
made  to  and  from  all  trains  by  a  free  line  of  stages.  Tarry- 


22 


town  station,  as  well  as  that  of  North  Tarry  town,  about 
half  a  mile  further  on,  is  within  a  few  minutes  walk  of  Wil- 
son, or  Mount  Andre  park,  which  contains  several  fine 
country  seats,  among  them  those  of  Wm.  S.  Wilson,  Francis 
Brown,  Gen.  Edward  Coles,  H.  A.  Grant,  Jr.,  and  the  ex- 
Mayor  Kingsland  Estate,  and  some  of  which  we  have  for  sale. 
The  view  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Rockland  county 
stretching  from  Mount  Dunderbergh  to  Yonkers,  afforded 
by  the  elevation  of  this  park  as  well  as  of  the  ridge  ad- 
joining it  on  the  north  and  south,  is  unsurpassed  for 
extent  and  beauty.  Some  of  the  most  attractive  villas 
in  Mount  Andre  park  we  have  for  sale,  while  others  are  of- 
fered for  rent  furnished,  for  the  Summer  season.  There  are 
also  in  this  neighborhood  many  eligible  sites  for  elegant 
homes,  or  plainer  residences,  unexcelled  in  respect  to  view, 
suited  to  the  taste  and  pocket  of  the  purchaser.  Several 
plots  cf  land  varying  in  size  from  ten  to  seventy- five  acres, 
and  ranging  in  price  from  $500  to  $5,000  per  acre,  accord- 
ing to  location  and  improvements — can  be  purchased 
through  us  in  the  vicinity.  South  of  Mount  Andre  park  is 
a  conspicuous  structure,  formerly  known  as  "  Herrick's 
Castle,"  presenting  a  fine  example  of  the  genuine  feudal 
architecture  of  that  class  of  edifices.  This  frowning  castle 
is  now  the  property  of  A.  ,S.  Hatch,  Esq.,  of  New  York. 
Near  the  park,  on  McKeel  avenue,  is  the  highly  improved 
country  seat  of  Mr.  John  H.  Hall. 

The  advantages  offered  by  Tarrytown  and  its  suburbs  to 
those  proposing  to  locate  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  are 
not  surpassed  by  any  other  place ;  among  them  are  the  fol- 
lowing: Two  railroads  with  frequent  and  rapid  trains; 
several  steamboats  plying  up  and  down  the  river ;  a  ferry 
to  Nyack ;  a  macadamized  road  (Albany  post)  to  New 


23 


York  ;  streets  well  shaded  ;  ample  supply  of  artesian  water; 
healthy  situation ;  society  select,  but  not  exclusive.  The 
historical  and  literary  associations  of  the  localky  are  too 
well-known  to  call  for  more  than  a  brief  allusion.  The 
monument  to  the  '  Capture  of  Andre,'  rebuilt  and  greatly 
improved  in  1880,  can  be  closely  scanned  in  a  drive  or 
walk  along  Broadway.  The  shaft  is  surmounted  by  a  life 
size  bronze  statue  representing  a  yeoman  of  the  revolution- 
ary period  (John  Paulding),  bearing  a  musket  and  powder 
horn.    The  statue  was  a  gift  of  the  late  John  Anderson. 

Sleepy  Hollow  cemetery  is  a  conspicuous  burying  ground 
crowning  the  summit  of  a  hill  along  whose  base  flows  the 
Pocantico — an  Indian  name  meaning  "  a  run  between  two 
hills"  Old  landmarks  are  quite  thick  in  this  immediate 
neighborhood.  The  road  leading  to  the  cemetery  crosses 
the  Pocantico  over  a  high  bridge  made  famous  by  Irving's 
genius.  It  is  the  identical  spot  where  Ichabod  Crane  met 
his  Waterloo  at  the  hands  of  the  "  headless  horseman.'  Be- 
low the  bridge  the  creek  expands  into  a  mill  pond,  and 
within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  dam,  on  the  north  side,  is 
situated  a  building  whose  walls  studded  with  loop  holes 
formed  a  part  of  the  celebrated  "  Castle,"  erected  by  Fred- 
eric Phillips,  about  168 1-3;  the  castle,  so  called,  was  the  first 
house  built  in  Tarwe  (signifying  grain)  town.  At  that  time 
sea-going  vessels  could  land  within  a  few  rods  of  Mr.  Phillips 
mansion.  The  renovated  (?)  castle  is  now  one  of  several 
adjoining  country  seats  belonging  to  the  estate  of  the  late 
ex-Mayor  Kingsland.  The  "  Old  Dutch  Church,"  erected 
by  the  same  Phillips  in  1699,  is  only  a  stone's  throw  from 
the  famous  bridge  above  described,  and  is  better  preserved 
than  the  manor  house.  The  stone  walls  are  still  there  en- 
tire, also  the  bell  cast  in  Holland,  bearing  the  date  of  1685, 


24 


and  an  inscription  in  Latin,  which,  being  translated,  reads : 
If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us.  The  ancient 
communion  table  and  silver  service  are  also  extant  and 
highly  valued  by  the  First  Reformed  Church  of  the 
village — to  whom  these  relics  and  the  edifice  belong — 
as  well  as  by  the  citizens  generally ;  the  brick  used  in  the 
construction  of  the  castle  and  church  was  brought  from 
Holland. 

Sleepy  Hollow,  immortalized  in  Irving's  popular  legend, 
extends  from  the  Pocantico  bridge,  for  a  distance  of  three 
or  four  miles  up  that  stream.  The  middle  portion,  con- 
taining the  Ichabod  Crane  school-house,  is  approached 
from  the  village  of  Tarrytown  through  a  lateral  valley  from 
another  direction,  and  is  considered  by  the  residents  of 
Tarrytown  to  be  the  real,  genuine  Hollow. 

It  is  only  two  or  three  Summers  ago  when  an  incident 
occurred  in  the  Hollow  that  deeply  moved  its  ancient  in- 
habitants, while  it  also  revived  memories  of  the  '  headless 
horseman.'  As  this  singular  occurrence  has  not  been  much 
spoken  of  outside  of  the  valley,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  in- 
sert here  the  following  description  of  it  as  penned  at  the 
time  : 

"  On  a  certain  dark  night,  about  nine  o'clock,  the  clatter 
of  hoofs  was  heard,  as  of  a  steed  advancing  up  the  road  at 
a  rattling  pace.  As  the  sounds  approached  their  dwellings, 
the  honest  burghers  hastened  to  the  doors  and  peered  forth 
into  the  darkness,  thinking  to  see  a  runaway  horse.  But 
their  surprise  was  great  when  they  beheld  what  seemed  like 
a  terrible  centaur,  with  a  shaggy  mane  streaming  behind 
— so  much  being  dimly  visible  from  the  light  shed  by  the 
flaming  torch  which  it  carried.  The  monster  swept  by  like 
a  flash,  but  the  echoes  awakened  among  the  hills  had  scarce- 


25 


]y  died  away  in  the  direction  of  Hart's  ice-pond,  when  it  was 
heard  returning,  and  again  it  struck  terror  to  the  hearts  of 
the  spectators  as  it  vanished  in  the  darkness.  The  hour  of 
midnight  arrived  before  the  Sleepless  Hollowites  repaired 
to  their  beds,  on  which  they  tossed  about  till  daylight. 
The  strange  apparition  was  the  talk  of  the  neighborhood 
all  the  next  day  and  for  several  days.  When  the  subject 
had  become  a  little  stale  the  same  performance,  with  varia- 
tions, was  repeated  on  another  dark  night ;  and  so  it  went 
on  at  intervals  for  some  time.  The  sluggish  inhabitants  at 
length  began  to  be  moved  by  curiosity  as  well  as  apprehen- 
sion— for  the  goblin  would  play  such  annoying  pranks  as 
leaping  a  door  yard  fence,  while  the  family  was  sitting  on 
the  porch,  career  around  the  house  and  vault  back  into  the 
road  ;  tear  through  corn-fields,  to  the  great  detriment  of 
the  roasting  ears ;  plow  through  pickle  patches  and  take  a 
tilt  at  the  cattle,  putting  them  to  flight  helter  skelter.  The 
wrath  of  the  settlers  in  the  valley  at  length  began  to  gather 
and  take  shape.  They  determined  to  solve  this  mystery  at 
all  hazards,  and  actually  assembled  at  a  given  hour,  armed 
with  pitch-forks  and  rusty  muskets.  Many  nights  in  suc- 
cession they  watched,  but  the  spectre  has  never  since  made 
the  darkness  of  a  Sleepy  Hollow  night  hideous  by  its  pres- 
ence. Whether  it  got  an  inkling  of  the  warm  reception 
promised  by  the  valorous  burghers,  has  not  been  clearly  as- 
certained. Some  non-superstitious  people  have  hinted  that 
if  this  '  imp  of  darkness  '  could  have  been  overhauled  and 
critically  examined,  there  would  have  been  revealed  a  young 
man  of  waggish  propensities  mounted  on  a  fleet  horse,  clad 
in  a  buffalo  robe  with  long  streamers  attached — and  carry- 
ing a  non-sulphurous  torch." 
The  station  of 


26 


NORTH  TARRYTOWN 

is  one  hour  and  twelve  minutes  from  Wall  street  (express 
trains)  and  twenty-two  miles  from  155th.  Here  we  have 
fine  country  seats  for  sale,  and  also  very  desirable  vacant 
property  to  suit.  This  station  is  in  the  village  of  the  same 
name,  which  adjoins  Tarrytown  on  the  north.  Near  the 
station  is  a  very  high  eminence,  level  at  the  top,  and  a 
prominent  object  of  vision  from  steamboats  passing  on  the 
Hudson.  This  lofty  hill,  known  as  "  Cakeout,"  is  a  part  of 
40  or  50  acres  of  some  of  the  finest  sloping  land  to  be  found 
on  the  line  of  the  road :  it  is  part  of  the  Abram  D.  Stephens 
estate,  whose  late  owner  was  one  of  the  old  and  respected 
citizens  of  North  Tarrytown.  On  the  west  of  this  property 
are  the  residences  of  Mr.  McLane  and  Mr.  Hawes,  respec- 
tively president  and  cashier  of  the  Greenwich  National 
Bank,  of  New  York.    The  next  station  is, 

TARRYTOWN  HEIGHTS, 

one  hour  and  fifteen  minutes  from  Wall  street  (express 
trains)  and  23  miles  from  155th  street.  From  the  Nepper- 
an  valley  the  road  has  been  traveling  up  an  ascending  grade, 
via  the  'loup,'  to  a  commanding  elevation  100  feet  higher. 
Here  is  an  extensive  plateau,  with  commanding  views,  some- 
what uneven,  about  500  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Hudson, 
entirely  healthly,  and  which,  in  all  probability,  will  be  rapidly 
settled  in  the  early  future.  Already  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood is  embellished  with  the  residences  of  such  well-known 
gentlemen  as  Judge  Noah  Davis,  G.  P.  Lowerv,  Col.  Church, 
of  the  Arjny  and  Navy  Gazette,  Lewis  Roberts,  Col.  Chas. 
Stone  and  Geo.  W.  Parsons.  There  is  a  spacious  and  well 
conducted  hotel  about  one-half  mile  from  the  station.  We 
are  offering  for  sale  plots  of  ground  varying  in  extent  from 


27 


the  ordinary  building  lot  to  50  acres,  embracing  many 
choice  locations,  at  prices  to  suit.  Two  or  three  desirable 
country  seats  and  a  fair  assortment  of  dwellings  can  also  be 
purchased.  A  company  of  capitalists  having  ample  means  is 
about  to  construct  some  30  dwellings,  attractive  in  style  and 
equipment,  within  easy  reach  of  the  station  ;  the  plan  also 
embraces  a  commodious  hotel.  The  several  buildings  will 
illustrate  the  Queen  Anne  style  of  architecture.  This  grow- 
ing hamlet  is  not  deformed  by  old  and  unsightly  buildings  ; 
on  the  contrary,  all  its  structures  being  new  and -tasty,  have, 
and  will  continue  to  have,  a  fresh  and  pleasing  look.  After 
leaving  the  heights  the  railroad  descends  to  the  valley  of 
the  Pocantico,  which  it  follows  to  Merritt's  Corners,  a  dis- 
tance of  7  miles.    The  next  station  is 

WHITSON'S, 

one  hour  and  25  minutes  from  Wall  street  (by  express 
trains),  and  27  miles  from  155th  street.  This  place  lies  in 
the  midst  of  a  broad  valley,  in  which  there  is  much  good 
farming  land.  We  have  several  of  these  farms  for  sale, 
varying  in  size  and  price.  A  comfortable  stage  connects 
this  station  with  Sing  Sing  and  Pleasantville,  twice  a  day  ; 
the  distance  to  Hudson  River  Railroad  at  the  former  place 
is  about  three  miles.    The  next  station  north  is 

MERRITT'S  CORNERS, 

one  hour  and  30  minutes  from  Wall  street,  and  30  miles 
from  155th  street.  Here  we  also  have  for  sale  desirable 
properties  near  the  station,  at  very  reasonable  prices  and 
on  easy  terms.  Close  to  the  station,  on  the  southeast,  rises 
a  remarkable  conical  hill,  visible  up  and  down  the  valley 
for  miles.  A  few  rods  west  of  the  station,  at  the  junction 
of  four  roads,  is  a  stone  tavern  formerly  known  as  Sarle's 


28 


now  Merritt's.  During  the  later  years  of  the  life  of  the 
Hon.  Horace  Greeley  his  custom  was  to  vote  here  at  all 
general  elections,  his  country  residence  being  then  in  Chap- 
paqua,  three  miles  distant.  It  was  somewhat  curious  to 
see  him  at  such  times,  mingling  on  easy  terms  with  the 
sturdy  farmers  of  his  neighborhood,  who  seemed  to  regard 
him  with  less  awe  and  far  less  dread  than  many  political 
pretenders  who  were  pitilessly  scourged  in  the  columns  of 
the  Tribune.  A  quaint  story  is  still  current  hereabouts, 
tending  to  illustrate  the  qualities  of  the  heart  of  the  great 
editor,  rather  than  his  penetrative  faculty.  One  day,  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  when  the 
wearers  of  the  blue  army  overcoat  were  more  frequently 
seen  on  our  streets  than  they  now  are,  Mr.  Greeley  was  at- 
tending the  polls  at  Merritt's  Corners,  and  observing  a  war 
worn  veteran  who  was  engaged  in  performing  a  public  duty 
with  his  ballot,  just  as  he  had  previously  done  with  his  mus- 
ket, he  called  the  man  of  blue  aside,  and,  placing  in  his 
hand  a  dollar  note,  remarked  that  his  custom  was,  on  such 
occasions,  to  present  to  every  soldier  he  met  the  above  sum 
to  pay  for  his  dinner.  The  ex-member  of  the  "  Army  of 
the  Potomac"  of  course  thanked  the  donor,  and  passed 
on.  This  occurrence  having  been  made  known  to  the  friends 
of  the  lucky  recipient,  in  a  short  space  of  time  about  a 
dozen  persons  "  a-wearing  of  the  blue  " — although  there 
was  but  one  bona  fide  soldier  on  the  ground — appeared  in 
turn  within  range  of  the  good  Mr.  Greeley's  vision,  and 
severally  bore  away  their  dollar.  It  would  be  impossible  to 
say  how  long  this  kind  of  thing  might  have  lasted  had  not 
the  philosopher  at  length  reached  the  bottom  of  his  pocket. 

About  one  mile  south  of  Merritt's,  on  the  head  waters  of 
the  Pocantico,  is  a  small  but  attractive  sheet  of  water  known 


29 


as  Echo  Lake.  It  is  well  stocked  with  pickerel,  rock  bass, 
white  perch  and  clouders,  and  is  a  favorite  resort  of  pic- 
nickers. This  lake  could  be  profitably  utilized  for  ice  cut- 
ting to  supply  especially  that  part  of  New  York  city  lying 
adjacent  to  the  Northern  road  and  its  connections.  The 
ice  would  require  to  be  hauled  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
over  an  easy  road  to  the  cars.  We  have  this  property  for 
sale,  or  it  can  be  rented.  It  consists  of  about  fifty  acres  of 
mostly  rough  land,  much  of  it  bearing  a  crop  of  young  tim 
ber  of  several  years'  growth,  including  a  few  acres  of  arable 
land,  and  the  lake,  which  covers  some  half  a  dozen  acres. 
A  little  more  than  half  a  mile  from  this  lake,  in  a  south- 
east direction,  is  located  the  once  celebrated  Chappaqua 
spring  ;  it  supplies  a  chalybeate,  or  iron  impregnated  water, 
containing  excellent  medicinal  properties.  The  surround- 
ing scenery  is  wild  and  picturesque,  and  has  always  been 
much  admired.  During  the  period,  40  to  60  years  ago 
the  Chappaqua  spring  enjoyed  a  wide  local  reputation, 
attracting  many  visitors  from  distances  as  far  as  twenty  miles, 
aftfl  even  from  New  York.  The  hotel  having  been  burned 
many  years  since,  it  ceased  to  attract  attention,  and  was 
superceded  by  other  more  accessible  resorts.  Many  cures 
are  recorded  of  scrofulous  and  skin  diseases,  and  to-day 
some  of  the  neighboring  residents  drive  miles  to  procure 
the  water,  to  be  used  chiefly  as  a  tonic.  By  the  completion 
of  the  Northern  Railroad  the  full  development  of  this  prop- 
erty is  made  possible — it  being  only  one-half  mile  distant 
from  the  road.  We  have  it  for  sale,  and  describe  it  as  in- 
cluding about  50  acres  of  rough  woodland,  of  no  value, 
however,  for  farming.  At  the  present  time  this  property 
can  be  bought  at  a  very  reasonable  price  j  and  should  an 
enterprising  person  take  hold  of  it,  it  ought  to  become  a 


30 


very  profitable  investment.  Doubtless  the  proper  course 
would  be  to  erect  a  hotel  and  make  it  a  resort  for  pleasure 
seekers,  as  well  as  for  invalids.  The  short  distance  of  this 
spring  from  New  York  would  be  much  in  its  favor. 

The  configuration  of  the  valley  of  the  Pocantico  at 
Merntt's  Corners  is  somewhat  noticeable,  inasmuch  as 
it  continues  straight  on  to  Croton  Lake,  miles  dis- 
tant, though  the  drainage  waters  flow  in  opposite 
directions.  Although  the  bottom  of  the  valley,  at  this 
precise  point,  is  about  ninety  feet  above  the  lake, 
the  fact  is  not  necessarily  adverse  to  the  theory  of 
some,  that  the  Croton  River  once  flowed  through  the  Po- 
cantico valley,  emerging  at  Tarrytown.  Upheavals  and 
depressions  of  the  underlying  strata  may  account  for  it.  At 
all  events,  between  this  station  and  the  lake  are  frequent 
and  large  banks  of  gravel  and  sand  which  have  unquestion- 
ably been  deposited  there  by  the  action  of  a  considerable 
body  of  water  at  a  remote  period.    The  next  station  is 

CROTON  LAKE  SOUTH, 

o  le  hour  and  thirty-five  minutes  from  Wall  street,  (by  ex- 
press trains),  and  32  miles  from  155th  street.  We  have  at 
this  place  for  sale  about  200  acres  of  land,  some  of  it  front- 
ing on  the  lake,  with  good  views,  and  well  improved.  A 
large  portion  can  be  sub-divided  as  desired,  while  the  whole 
is  held  at  rates  extremely  moderate. 

Near  the  station  'Than'l  Cornell's  famous  trout  brook  en- 
ters the  lake  ;  it  has  followed  the  general  line  of  the  railroad 
for  more  than  a  mile  back.  This  stream  has  long  abounded 
with  speckled  beauties,  but  its  owner,  whose  extensive  farm 
encloses  it  from  beginning  to  end,  does  not  permit  the  pub- 
lic to  whip  it  at  pleasure.    Near  his  home  in  the  valley  he 


3' 


has  a  spacious  trout  pond,  formed  by  building  a  five  hun- 
dred dollar  dam  across  the  clear,  sparkling  stream.  Here 
many  of  his  declining  days  are  pleasantly  spent,  in  company 
of  his  devoted  wife,  drawing  fish  of  fabulous  weight  from 
the  cool,  pellucid  depths. 

The  railroad  crosses  the  lake  over  an  iron  bridge  70  feet 
above  the  water,  and  nearly  400  in  length.  The  view 
from  this  eminence  is  extensive  and  fine,  commanding  a 
range  of  the  Croton  valley,  up  and  down,  for  many  miles. 
Among  the  special  objects  on  which  the  eye  rests  are 
"Turkey  Mountain"  and  Pines  bridge — the  latter  a  solid 
structure  of  iron  and  wood,  for  highway  travel,  spanning  the 
lake  further  east.    After  crossing  the  bridge  the  cars  stop  at 

CROTON  LAKE  NORTH, 

about  one  mile  distant  fiom  the  station  south,  and  1  hour 
39  minutes  from  Wall  street  (express  trains).  The  land 
just  here  is  elevated,  much  of  it  150  feet  above  the  lake, 
and  eligibly  situated  for  residences  of  all  kinds,  including 
summer  hotels  and  cottages,  as  well  as  for  farming.  Here 
we  have  for  sale  over  500  acres  contiguous  to  the  station, 
at  living  rates ;  and  it  may  be  safely  affirmed  that  there  is 
no  similar  tract  of  land  on  the  line  of  this  road  having  a 
finer  location. 

Croton  lake  is  a  splendid  sheet  of  water  occupying  the 
former  bed  and  adjacent  valley  of  the  river  for  a  distance  of 
six  miles  from  the  dam.  Just  beyond  its  upper  terminus 
Cross  and  Muscoot  rivers  add  their  volume  to  the  Croton's 
waters.  The  former  takes  its  rise  in  the  lake  of  the  same 
name  and  the  three  Waccabucs,  all  situated  near  the  Con- 
necticut line.  The  latter  lakes  possess  some  grand  views, 
and  rival,  if.  indeed,  they  do  not  excel,  the  best  features  of 


32 


Mahopac.  The  Muscoot  has  for  its  sources  lakes  Kirk  and 
Mahopac  and  the  two  Mohansics.  The  old  Pine's  bridge, 
removed  in  1840,  was  located  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile 
east  of  the  present  one  of  the  same  name.  It  was  much 
used  during  the  Revolutionary  war  for  the  passage  of  troops, 
and  was  usually  guarded  by  the  American  forces.  Major 
Andre  crossed  it  on  his  way  towards  the  British  lines,  which 
he  never  reached.  Near  Pine's  bridge  are  several  fine 
residences,  having  beautiful  views  of  the  lake.  About 
one  and  a  quarter  miles  west  of  the  railroad  bridge  is  the 
Croton  dam,  a  structure  too  well  known  to  the  public  by 
pen  and  pencil  to  need  special  notice  here.  It  will  be  suf- 
ficient to  add  that  the  view  hereabouts  is  worth  a  drive  of 
many  miles  to  see.  Mr.  Fernando  Wood,  son  of  the  former 
ex-Mayor,  is  and  has  been  for  years  the  efficient  and.  trust- 
worthy superintendent  of  the  lake.  He  takes  pleasure  in 
offering  all  possible  facilities  to  those  visiting  these  parts  for 
sight-seeing  ;  his  residence  is  just  below  the  dam.  Croton 
lake  abounds  in  fish  sought  after  by  anglers,  but  is  chiefly 
celebrated  for  black  bass  ;  white  perch  and  yellow  bass  are 
often  taken  in  quantities.  Pine's  bridge  is  a  good  fishing 
ground,  the  water  there  being  twenty-five  feet  in  depth. 
After  leaving  the  lake  the  railroad  turns  gradually  to  the 
west  and  skirts  Turkey  mountain,  along  a  romantic  vale, 
till  it  enters  one  of  the  garden-spots  of  Westchester  county, 
where  is  the  station  of 

YORKTOWN, 

one  hour  and  46  minutes  from  Wall  street  (express  trains) 
and  37  miles  from  155th  street.  In  this  vicinity  is  the  site 
of  the  house  of  Isaac  Underhill,  where  Andre  and  Joshua 
H.  Smith  breakfasted  at  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of 


33 


the  former's  capture  at  Tarrytown.  About  one  and  a  half 
miles  west  of  the  station  are  the  two  Mohansic  lakes,  well 
stocked  with  fine  varieties  of  fish.  They  were  formerly 
known  as  Cromponds,  a  name  supposed  to  be  derived  from 
the  Dutch — crom  meaning  crooked ;  but  neither  is  particu- 
larly crooked.  On  French  hill,  an  eminence  south  of  the 
lakes,  was  encamped  for  a  time  the  French  army  under 
Count  Rochambeau,  in  1 781-2.  The  larger  Mohansic  is  a 
fine  body  of  water,  covering  about  200  acres.  The  Presby- 
terian parsonage,  at  Crompond — a  village  one  mile  north- 
west of  the  lake — used  during  the  Revolutionary  war  by  the 
Yorktown  Committee  of  Public  Safety,  was  burned  by  a 
detachment  of  British  soldiers. 

Yorktown,  like  many  other  places  with  exceptional  ad- 
vantages, has  a  promising  future.  Already  it  is  a  thriving 
little  place,  with  stores  and  several  cottages  near  the  station. 
Among  the  principal  residents  in  this  vicinity  are  Mr.  Henry 
Chamberlain  and  Col.  Nicholas  E.  Payne,  both  lawyers  of 
New  York  city.  Col.  Payne  has  a  fine  farm  and  country 
seat ;  also  reside  here  Mr.  Silas  Whitney  and  Mr.  Edward 
Underhill,  the  latter  an  especially  large  farmer.  At  and 
around  Yorktown  station  we  have  for  sale  some  choice  farms 
and  other  property,  well  located  and  highly  desirable  as 
profitable  investments. 

Passing  on  to  the  north,  the  railroad  continues  to  traverse 
a  rich  agricultural  region,  in  the  midst  of  which  is  located 
the  Quaker  settlement  of 

AMAWALK, 

one  hour  and  49  minutes  from  Wall  Street  (express 
trains)  and  38  miles  from  155th  street.  This  name  is  a 
corruption  of  an  Indian  term  applied  to  the  east  portion  of 


34 


Yorktown,  being  part  of  the  lands  originally  granted  to 
Stephanus  Van  Cortlandt  by  three  Mohegan  chief*.  We 
have  some  excellent  farms  near  the  station  which  can  be 
bought  for  very  reasonable  prices. 
The  station  next  beyond  is 

WEST  SOMERS, 

one  hour  53  minutes  from  Wall  street,  and  39  miles  from 
155th  street.  We  have  farms  here  for  sale  every  way  de- 
sirable for  settlement  or  investment.  Somers  village,  2 J 
miles  east  of  this  point,  is  the  focus  of  a  beautiful  tract  of 
country  thickly  settled  and  highly  cultivated.  One  of  its 
principal  features  is  the  celebrated  "  Elephant  Hotel,"  long 
ago  established  by  Hackaliah  Bailey,  the  owner  of  the  first 
elephant  imported  and  exhibited  in  this  country.  The  next 
station,  situated  on  pretty  high  ground,  is  the 

BALDWIN  PLACE, 

two  hours  from  Wall  street  (express  trains)  and  42  miles 
from  155th  street.  We  offer  here,  also,  exceptionally  good 
farms  in  a  very  healthy  neighborhood.  The  road  has  now 
entered  Putnam  county,  a  section  famous  for  its  natural 
lakes  and  picturesque  scenery.  A  short  distance  beyond 
Baldwin's  a  branch  of  the  Harlem  Railroad  is  crossed,  and 
we  approach  the  station  at 

LAKE  MAHOPAC, 

two  hours,  8  minutes  from  Wall  street  (express  trains)  and 
44  miles  from  155th  street.  This  large  and  beautiful  sheet 
of  water  has  long  been  a  favorite  resort  for  summer  guests, 
and  its  popularity  is  still  maintained,  despite  the  multiplica- 
tion of  watering  places  within  easy  reach  of  New  York.  A 
new  hotel  is  already  projected  to  accommodate  the  over- 


35 


flow  of  visitors.  The  Thompson  House,  which  is  the  largest 
and  best  equipped,  has  capacity  for  about  350  boarders. 
The  "Coles"  House  and  Dean's  are  also  well  patronized, 
as  also  the  "  Carpenter."  A  leading  amusement  of  the 
guests  is  boating.  From  morning  till  night  row  boats  may 
be  seen  darting  in  all  directions,  many  of  them  propelled  by 
the  graceful  but  vigorous  arms  of  ladies ;  "  when  the 
gentle  breezes  blow  "  the  surface  of  the  lake  is  flecked  with 
snowy  sails.  The  people  who  usually  frequent  Mahopac 
are  of  the  highest  respectability,  but,  perhaps,  not  ultra 
fashionable  :  they  come  here  for  quiet  and  rational  enjoy- 
ment. The  fishing  is  good,  and  always  has  been.  The 
name  of  this  lake  is  strongly  suggestive  of  Indian  times ; 
and  even  long  after  the  advent  of  the  whites  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, the  bark  canoe  of  the  red  man  continued  to  glide 
over  its  waters.  Several  cottages  and  country  seats  look  out 
from  shady  nooks  along  Mahopac's  shores,  but  there  is  room 
for  more,  and  we  can  supply  comers  with  equally  eligible 
sites,  and  also  meet  the  views  of  any  wanting  farms  fronting 
on  the  lake,  or  near  it.  Two  railroads  now  carry  passengers 
to  and  from  the  city,  and  if  more  advantages  are  desired 
than  those  afforded  here,  it  will  be  hard  to  find  them  else- 
where. After  leaving  delightful  Mahopac  the  railroad 
threads  its  way  among  the  characteristic  hills  of  "Old  Put," 
presently  arriving  at  another  charming  lake — Gleneida,  on 
the  northeasterly  shore  of  which  is  located  the  county  seat, 
and  also  station  of 

CARMEL, 

two  hours,  2 1  minutes  from  Wall  street  (express  trains)  and 
49  miles  from  155th  street.  This  is  a  thriving  village  of 
over  1,000  inhabitants,  made  up  of  the  bone  and  sinew  of 


36 


the  land,  while  it  also  contains  many  cultured  people. 
Lake  Gleneida,  in  whose  favor  too  much  can  nardly  be  said, 
is  about  one  mile  in  extreme  length,  bordered  largely  by 
sloping  shores  of  highly  improved  land.  There  are  many 
first-class  farms  about  here,  some  of  which  we  have  for  sale, 
as  well  as  other  descriptions  of  property.  Carmel  will  be 
remembered  as  associated  with  the  name  of  the  late  Daniel 
Drew,  a  quondam  giant  of  Wall  street.  The  deceased 
financier  has  left  a  worthy  memorial  in  the  shape  of  the 
Drew  Female  Seminary,  liberally  endowed  by  him.  Putnam 
county  is  widely  celebrated  as  the  natal  ground  of  such 
magnates  among  the  originators  of  animal  shows  and  circus 
rings,  as  Gerard  Crane,  John  June,  Lew  Lent,  Augevine, 
Titus  and  others,  wTho  may  truly  be  described  as  the  fathers 
of  this  class  of  peripatetic  exhibitions.  Beyond  Carmel  is 
the  station  of 

TILLEY  FOSTER. 

The  country  about  heie  is  somewhat  rough,  with,  how- 
ever, intervals  of  some  good  farming  land.  Quite  an  ex- 
tensive mine  of  magnetic  iron  ore,  situated  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, has  long  been  worked  with  success.  Beyond  the 
Tilley  Foster  station  the  road  crosses  one  of  the  great  sto- 
rage reservoirs  which  supplement  New  York's  supply  of 
water  in  a  dry  season.  The  New  York  City  &  Northern  road 
terminates  at 

BREWSTER'S, 

a  prominent  stopping  place  on  the  Harlem  Railroad,  53 
miles  from  155th  street,  and  2  hours  34  minutes  from  Wall 
street  (express  trains).  Connection  is  here  made,  via  Dan- 
bury,  with  the  system  of  New  England  roads,  thus  forming 
another  and  favorite  route  onward  to  Boston.  Brewster's 


37 


is  all  alive  with  enterprising  business  men,  who,  realizing  its 
many  advantages  of  position,  have  established  themselves 
here  and  made  permanent  investments.  We  have  at  this 
point,  and  in  the  country  around,  also,  farms  and  other 
desirable  property  for  sale. 

THE  FIRST-CLASS  QUALITY  OF  THE  ROAD. 

The  management  of  every  railroad  may  reasonably  be 
expected  to  do  three  things,  viz. :  Provide  for  the  safety, 
comfort  and  convenience  of  passengers.  All  these  the 
New  York  City  &  Northern  Railroad  appears  to  have  done, 
to  the  full  satsfaction  of  its  patrons. 

First. — The  management  has  consulted  their  safety  by 
constructing  and  maintaing  a  solid  road-bed,  furnished  with 
steel  rails,  substantial  bridges  and  a  first-class  equipment, 
with  all  modern  improvements,  including  Miller's  platforms, 
automatic  air  brakes,  &c.  Efficient  and  careful  engineers, 
firemen,  brakemen  and  conductors  are  employed  to  run  the 
trains,  and  no  others. 

Second. — The  comfort  of  passengers  has  been  consulted 
by  the  management,  in  providing  polite  and  accomodating 
station  agents  and  conductors,  neat  and  elegant  cars  for 
transportation,  warmed  in  the  season  by  Baker  heaters ; 
and  by  the  ballasting  of  the  track  with  stone  to  avoid  the 
annoyance  of  dust ;  already  more  than  nine  miles  of 
the  lower  section  of  the  road  have  been  thus  improved,  and 
the  work  will  continue  to  go  on  as  fast  as  possible. 

Third. — The  convenience  of  passengers  has  been  con- 
sulted, not  only  in  the  promptness  and  regularity  of  the 
running  of  trains,  but  also  by  putting  on  more  'rains  and  in 
,k  expediting  "  them  at  a  higher  speed  than  the  actual  busi- 


38 

ness  of  the  line  has  warranted.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that 
no  accident  has  occurred  to  passengers  during  the  year  and 
a  half  the  road  has  been  in  operation. 

A  map  will  be  found  herewith,  showing  the  various 
stations  of  the  road,  while  a  table  containing  the  rates  of 
commutation  is  also  given. 


43 


Wc  publish  the  following  communication  by  per- 
mission of  the  author : 

Wm.  H.  Hoyt  &  Co., 

Gentlemen: — In  compliance  with  your  request  for  an  ex- 
pressed opinion  as  to  the  sanitary  condition  of  Westchester 
county — and  especially  as  to  that  portion  of  it  known  as  the 
Saw  Mill  River  Valley,  or  the  Valley  of  the  Nepperhan,  and 
heyond — I  would  say,  it  is  an  old  county,  full  of  historic  inter- 
est, and,  as  everybody  must  know,  for  a  hundred  years  or  more 
has  been  considered  sound  and  healthy. 

It  seems  to  me  free  from  natural  causes  of  disease,  and  es- 
pecially so  from  those  natural  conditions  of  soil  and  drainage 
which  cause  the  generation  of  miasma  or  malaria.  It  is  undu- 
lating, with  good  opportunities  for  artificial  drainage,  and  has 
good  natural  drainage  in  the  Saw  Mill  River  and  the  streams 
tributary  thereto.  It  is  free  from  rock  beds  just  below  or  a 
few  feet  below  the  soil — one  of  the  most  prolific  causes  of 
malaria — and  very  generally  free  from  a  substratum  of  clay. 

Malaria  seems  to  have  extended  itself  in  most  every  direction 
within  the  last  few  years,  but  doubtless  has  been  greatly  exag- 
gerated. Wherever  it  has  shown  itself  up  through  the  country 
under  consideration  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  chiefly,  if  not  alto- 
gether, caused  by  the  first  work  done  in  the  construction  of 
the  road-bed  of  the  N.  Y.  City  &  Northern  R.  R.  There  was 
no  malarial  fever  known  through  this  country  before,  and  those 
who  are  acquainted  with  the  facts  will  remember  that  a  great 
amount  of  work  was  done,  even  to  the  extent  of  laying  a  large 
portion  of  the  track.  But  it  was  done  in  an  imperfect  manner. 
The  natural  water  courses  were  obstructed,  there  were  an  in- 
sufficient number  of  culverts,  and  then  the  construction  was 
stopped  and  remained  in  this  condition  about  seven  years. 
Thus,  for  a  long  distance,  at  intervals,  the  Saw  Mill  River  was 
dammed  up,  its  natural  flow  obstructed  and  the  inevitable  re- 
sult the  decomposition  of  vegetable  matter  along  its  banks. 


44 


Now,  under  the  present  management,  when  the  road  was 
finished,  a  large  number  of  culverts  were  put  in  and  other  im- 
provements were  made,  not  only  to  make  the  road  safe  and  the 
road-bed  what  it  should  be,  but  to  do  away  with  anything 
detrimental  to  the  country  along  the  line  of  the  road.  The 
attention  of  the  reader  is  also  directed  to  improvements  made 
by  Mr.  Cyrus  W.  Field  in  the  town  of  Greenburgh,  between 
Ashford  and  Elmsford  stations,  and  with  which  the  public  is 
to  a  large  extent  familiar. 

The  rapid  growth  of  this  great  city  is  inevitably  northward, 
and  into  Westchester  county;  and  the  desirability  of  the 
country  is  such  that  it  seems  to  me,  with  the  accomplished 
fact  of  the  N.  Y.  City  6c  Northern  R.  R.  in  full  operation,  mak- 
ing a  continuous  railroad  line  with  rapid  transit  to  and  through 
the  entire  length  of  the  city,  it  needs  but  to  be  better  known 
to  be  largely  sought  for. 

Very  truly  yours, 

F.  A.  Utter,  M.  D., 
lOGth  Street,  bet.  Boulevard  and  Riverside  Drive, 

N.  Y.  City. 


Tickets  for  50  or  100  Rides  are  sold  at  General  Office  of  the 
Company,  71  Uroaitway,  N.  Y. 


STATIONS 


From 
155th  St. 


FROM  and  TO  NEW  YORK. 
Including  Elevated  Railroad  Fare.  Excursion 
Tickets  are  good  for  three  days. 


J*  5 


utJ  Eu 


Morris  Dock  

Fordham  Heights. . 

Kings  Bridge  

Van  Cortlandt  

South  Yonkers  

North  Yonkers. . .  . 

Odells  

Ashford  ,  

Elmsford  

East  Tarrytown  ... 

Tarrytewn  

North  Tarrytown... 
Tarrytown  Heights. 

Whitsons  

Merrits  Corners .... 
Croton  Lake  (S.).... 
Croton  Lake  (N.).... 

Yorktown   

Amawalk  

West  Somers  (S.  St.) 

Baldwin  Place  

Lake  Mahopac  

Crafts  

Carmel  11  15  2  00  1 

Tilly  Foster   1  20  2  00  I 

Rrewster  '1  20  2  05  1 

Mill  Plain  |1  40    1 

1  (anbury   

1  [awleyville. . . . 

Xewtown  

Sandy  Hook  . . . 

Southbury  

Southford  

Towantic   

Waterbury  

Terryville  

Bristol  

Forestville  

Plainville  


9 

5 

1 

10 

.  J* 

10 

10 

15 

$  25 
30 

20 

25 

40 

30 

60 

35 

65 

40 

75! 

45 

80 

45 

80 

45 

80 

45 

80 

60 

1  05 

70 

1  15 

75 

1  35 

80 

1  45 

90 

1  65 

95 

1  75  1 

1 

05 

1  90  I 

1 

05 

1  90  1 

1  05  1  90  1 
1  05  2  00  1 


'1  55  2  40  1 

li 

  2 

  2 

  2 

..    2 


15  .. 
18  .. 
18  .. 
20  * 
20 
25 
30 
40 
45 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
65  1 
75  1 
80  1 
85  1 
95  1 
00  1 
10  2 
10  2 
10  2 
15  2 
20  2 
25  2 
25  2 
45  . 
60  2 
80  .. 
85  .. 


K 

$1~30 
1  50 
1  50 
75 


to  v 
5 


IVT3 

5 


81 


|2  ho 
3  00 
3  75 
4 
4 
5 
5 
5 
5 
6 
7 
8 


45  $15  00 

55    15  50 

75    17  50 

85  !  

00  

00  !  

00  1  

10  

10  

10  ...  ..   

15  


$7  00  I 
7  00  | 
7  00  » 

7  00-f 

8  50o 

9  90S 

11  80<m 

12  70  u 

13  50,2 

14  40-u 
14  40° 
14  40- 

14  40  | 

15  90  J 

16  90  I 

17  40  " 

18  00-5 
20  00  o 
22  05  E 
22  50ct 
24  00  u 
26  50>S 
26  50-o 
26  50  § 
26  50g 
26  50  J 


$10  50  | 

10  50  I 

11  00  «S 

12  00- 

13  50  o 
15  75  E 

19  00j» 

20  50  u 
22  00  o 

22  50-o 

23  00  g 
23  003 
23  00  | 
27  00  J 
27  00  | 
27  00^ 
27  00- 
32  00  o 
36  00  £ 
38  OOto 
40  00  u 
43  0O£ 
43  00-c 
43  00  g 
43  00- 
43  00  1 


*  Tickets  for  10,  15  and  25  Rides  are  good  for  one  year. 
50  and  100  Rides  are  Individual  Commutation  Tickets. 


Tickets  on  sale  at  New  York  offices  to  all  points  to  and  including  Plainville  ;  at 
Local  Stations  for  Hartford,  Boston  and  principal  stations  on  N.  Y.  &  N.  E.  R.  R. 


CLASSICS 


